• Jessica Bevilacqua.
  • "My parents worked so hard to provide for me and my siblings but could not help me beyond the first year of my undergraduate degree. I worked extremely hard during the school years and summers helping fight forest fires. To have this award means I can end my education without debt and with a head start in my future."

    —Jessica Bevilacqua, Pitblado Scholarship recipient

About student awards

When you create an award, you can choose the type of award and funding options that work best for you.

Types of awards

Scholarships: A scholarship is offered on the basis of academic achievement to encourage a promising student to pursue further courses in a specific area of study.

Prizes: A prize is awarded for outstanding academic achievement in a single course, a group of courses, a year’s work, or in a cumulative study program.

Bursaries: A bursary is awarded to a student on the basis of financial need and good academic standing. For students with desire and ability, but not financial means, a bursary can make the difference between graduating and not being able to continue with their studies.

Fellowships: Fellowships help exceptional graduate students and are a way of advancing their research and excellence in their field of interest.

Funding options

Awards can be funded by outright gifts (cash, cheque, securities) or a pledge payable over a period of time. Capital for an endowed award can be accumulated over several years. The first award is made the year after the fund reaches the minimum level. Awards with the exception of convocation prizes are applied directly to the student recipient’s electronic tuition account.

Endowed awards

Donors may elect to establish an endowment fund at the University to provide a reliable, annual source of income to support the award. The University invests the capital and each year, the available annual interest earned on the fund which is currently about 4.5 per cent, is used to offer the award. The initial donation or capital is not disbursed, ensuring that the scholarship, bursary, prize, or fellowship will be awarded in perpetuity. 

A minimum contribution of $25,000 is required to establish an endowment fund at the University of Manitoba. This amount may be pledged over five years.

Annually funded awards

Some donors fund their awards by making an annual donation. This type of award continues as long as the donor provides funds to offer the scholarship, bursary, prize, or fellowship. A commitment of $2,500 for a minimum of three years is needed to establish an annually funded award. For Bisons Sports awards, a commitment of $1,000 for a minimum of three years is needed to establish an annually funded award. 

How to establish a new award

To begin, determine the type of award you wish to support. Terms of reference will be created for approval first by the University of Manitoba Senate Committee on Awards and then approval by the University Senate. A Donor Relations Officer at the University of Manitoba will work with you and will draft terms of reference. The terms will include:

Purpose of the award

This statement will describe the benefit or assistance you wish to provide through your award.

Number of awards, value and renewability

Parameters to consider are:

  • Number of awards to be created;
  • Value of each award – for endowed awards, the usual practice is to offer the available annual income from the fund as the award; and
  • Whether or not a student may renew the award, and if so, under what conditions.

Field of study and selection criteria

This information directs the selection of candidates for the award. 

Biographical information

You may wish to provide specific details, relating your award to the life and loves of the person or institution for which it is named.

Contact us

Donor Relations
Unit 100-137 Innovation Drive
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 6B6 Canada

204-474-9195
1-800-330-8066 (toll free)
204-474-7635
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Charitable registration number: 11926-0669-RR0001